I MARRIED MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART AT 72—THEN HIS CHILDREN TOOK EVERYTHING

I went to the attorney's office the next day.

He handed me two envelopes. One was addressed to Catherine. The other was addressed to Mark.

"Garrett wanted you to deliver these personally," he said. "He said it was important that you be there when they read them."

"Why?"

"I don't know. But he made me promise."

I took the letters and drove to Catherine's house.

She opened the door, her face twisting with anger when she saw me.

"What are you doing here? You're not welcome."

"I have something for you."

I handed her the letter.

She stared at it, her face going pale.

"Where did you get this?"

"Your father's attorney. He wanted me to give it to you."

Catherine took the letter, her hands shaking.

She opened it and started reading.

As she read, her face changed. The anger faded. The hatred disappeared. And in its place was something I had never seen on her face before.

Guilt.

"What does it say?" I asked.

She didn't answer. She just handed me the letter.

I read it.

Catherine,

If you're reading this, I'm gone. And I want you to know that I forgive you.

You never accepted Eleanor. You always believed she was after my money. But you were wrong. She was the only person who ever loved me for who I was.

I'm not leaving her everything to punish you. I'm leaving her everything because she deserves it. She loved me when you couldn't. She stood by me when you wouldn't.

I hope one day you'll understand.

I love you. I always have.

Dad

I looked up at Catherine.

She was crying.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I was so wrong about you."

I didn't know what to say.